Entries in Russia
(23)

Andrew spent the latter part of May and the early part of June, ministering to the people of Russia. During the visit he was constantly on the move, making stops in a number of cities including St. Petersburg, Naberezhnye Chelney and Izhevsk. Andrew ministered to CBC extension school students, participated in two graduation ceremonies, met with groups of local pastors in two cities, and held a Gospel Truth Seminar in the brief time he was there. Be sure to watch this short video detailing the highlights of Andrew's event-packed tour of Russia.

Andrew with Charis class of 2012, St. Petersburg, Russia. (Click to enlarge)

Final meeting, Sovietsky Hall in the Azimuth Hotel. (Click to enlarge)The final meeting in St. Petersburg included the graduation ceremony for Charis Bible College. Mike and Carrie addressed the crowd and introduced each student and graduate. Their teamwork in training these world changers, and their affection and personal connection to each student was evidence of their true calling. Carrie, after graduating from Charis Bible College-Colorado, has given more than a decade of service to Russia. Mike has proven to be not only a wonderful husband to Carrie, he is a full partner in the work of Andrew Wommack Ministries here.Mike and Carrie Pickett address the crowd in the Sovietsky Hall.(Click top enlarge)

Andrew followed the graduation with a message about the importance these students have placed on the word of God by committing two years of their lives to a concentrated program of study. They had honored God by honoring his word, Andrew said, and by doing that, God promises that He will honor them.

As we left the Azimuth Hotel, Carrie escorted a student to Andrew’s side with a word of testimony. Her name was Natasha, and on Andrew’s first day in Russia she had come to him for prayer that she would be healed of AIDS. Unbeknownst to her, her husband had been diagnosed with AIDS and had not told her about it Andrew presents a “Thank you” gift to Volodia (Vladimir Tcys) his tireless interpreter. (Click to enlarge)until he was obviously sick. He recently died of the disease and the doctors had placed a death sentence on her as well. Now, a week after prayer, she had returned from extensive testing and the doctors could not explain why they found no trace of the virus in her body! She wanted to thank Andrew for teaching the word in such a way that she could reach out and take by faith the healing God had provided by grace.

We leave St. Petersburg with a sense that Natasha’s testimony promises a much greater future for Russia than her past. With that, we turned our attention toward We leave Russia with a future so bright you need sunglasses to look at it.(Click to enlarge)our next destination, Telford, England and the Grace & Faith Conference.

New Russia: St. Petersburg high rises.(Click to enlarge)Old Russia: Communist era high rises.(Click to enlarge)

Returning to St. Petersburg, we were treated to a break in our schedule. Mike and Carrie Pickett There are no official taxis in St Petersburg. Carrie negotiates a ride with a young man. (Click to enlarge)invited us to enjoy dessert at their renovated communist-era apartment on the fifth floor. As we climbed the stairwell—a typical high rise with no elevator—an ancient babushka climbed ahead of us. (“Babushka” is the Russian term for grandmother. It also refers to the headscarf eastern European grandmothers typically wear.) Though Mike and Carrie’s apartment sits side-by-side with the babushka’s on the fifth floor, this sweet-faced grandma would not accept help from Carrie. Would not allow her to carry her bag, or steady her arm as she swayed and gasped for air, Babushka refuses Carrie’s help as Andrew looks on.(Click to enlarge)clinging to a hand rail after what was for her a torturous climb.

Later, Carrie explained that the grandma lives alone and is afraid of their sympathy, deeply mistrusting their motives. This is because she knows that her apartment has become more valuable than gold in the new and upwardly mobile St. Petersburg. And it is well known that eager young people gain the confidence of babushkas in order to abduct and kill them to obtain their apartments. So, Mike and Carrie’s desire to show Christ’s love continues to be rejected out of fear and isolation—another harsh contradiction between the old and new Russia.

Dessert time with Mike, Carrie and Elliana. (Click to enlarge)Dessert time was a pleasant departure from the world outside. Elliana joined us, and being two years old, naturally stole the show for the rest of the evening. With the exception of the irresistible cakes and fruit trays Carrie had prepared.

After dessert, the long “white nights” of St. Petersburg were beginning. Positioned north on the Baltic Sea, the sunset seems to go on forever. We took advantage of it and walked-off our dessert until 10 pm, bathing in the photographer’s golden hour. We found that the Russian way of life produces a much greater appreciation for its city parks and squares. The winters are long and confining, and the Elliana helps Mommy serve cake. (Click to enlarge)apartments quite small, therefore in the spring and summer people eagerly depart their dwellings to spend hours in the city’s common areas.

We joined the locals and walked through a plaza of water fountains dominated by a great statue of Vladimir Lenin. We were reminded of the truly old Czarist Russia of the 1700s, when Peter the Great built this fabulous city. And two-centuries later, when the dark cloud of communism imposed its atheistic signature, renaming the city Leningrad—a name that endured until 1991, when the Soviet Union broke-up. Today, the new Russia has reclaimed the original name. Yet, Lenin’s statue stands ironically frozen in mid-stride, stuck in an era that has Andrew walks with Elliana toward the local plaza.(Click to enlarge)disappeared due to the massive failure of his ideas.

It is good to be an American in St. Petersburg tonight. We think ahead a few weeks to our July 4th celebration when names like George Washington, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton will stand in stark contrast to that of Valdimir Lenin. These American founders will be honored, not for the failure of their ideas, but for the God fearing wisdom they demonstrated in preserving freedom for so many generations to come. America’s blessing continues to bless the world.

Filed June 3, 2012 by Media Operations Manager, Stephen Bransford.

Plaza of water fountains: Stephen, Andrew, Mike, Elliana, Will.(Click to enlarge)A relic from the days when St. Petersburg was call Leningrad. (Click to enlarge)No amount of water can wash away the record of this man. (Click to enlarge)

Carrie and Elliana watch the dancing water. (Click to enlarge)Andrew coaches Elliana’s first driving lesson. (Click to enlarge)Lenin, posing for a time that is no more. (Click to enlarge)